Mu Chen left Jingnan on tour.

The New Deal has been implemented for nearly 100 years and has begun to achieve remarkable results.

In terms of governance, the rights and interests of the family were greatly weakened. The overthrow of the Fangshan clan, coupled with the conviction of Mu Duan and others later, uprooted the old roots of the power of Chaoyan Dynasty. The selection of officials, which was originally presided over by Chun Yuyan, echoed the new policy measures led by Qingling at that time, abandoning the difference between clans and races, and selecting the best. In recent decades, these selected talents have slowly accumulated political achievements and become an indispensable force in the governance of the country.

Among the most influential families in the past, the Monan clan is now the most powerful, but with the old age and illness of the patriarch Monan Anshan, the delay in determining the successor, and the gradual decrease in the number of garrisons in various places after the unification of the Eastern Continent, the special status of the Monan clan in the past has also begun to shake and weaken.

The remaining Baili clan and Chunyu clan, one of them lost the credentials and strength of the original separatist party with the withdrawal of the feudal domain, the reduction of the army, and the marriage of Ning Yan, and the other because the patriarch Chun Yuyan himself was a loyal supporter of the new policy, and took the initiative to avoid any suspicion of power-grabbing from the beginning.

After the destruction of the country in Jiuqiu, Mu Chen further set out to slowly move the residents of the southwest to the Central Plains according to the support policy formulated by the Qingling in the past in terms of taxation, to promote racial integration, and at the same time weaken the influence and control of the family over the people of the fiefdom, and gradually establish a governance model with royal power as the absolute center, as well as a system of official selection based on personal ability.

Every once in a while, Mu Chen would go south with his confidants and important ministers to inspect the current situation in the main areas where the new policy was implemented.

And this time, not long after he went out, he received an urgent letter from the queen, saying that the Qingling Emperor Ji who stayed in Lingxiao City had made an accident.

Emperor Ji first went to Weilu Mountain and found the queen of Fangshan who was imprisoned there.

Qing Ling's consciousness is weak now, and she can't move her own hands, but there is a large group of elite guards around her who have been ordered to protect her, and they can't resist the coercion of the emperor, and in the end, it is the queen of the other mountain who has a heavy hand.

It is said that at that time, Di Ji was sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea, hardly speaking, and only explained one thing before and after: "Tell her, I want Mu Han, let her give me an idea." If she can't get out, she will call me, and when she is about to die, she will not fight, and then let people find a way to spread the news to Nanlu. ”

The guards didn't dare to do it at first, so Qing Ling went on his own. She was weak, and within a few blows she began to turn pale and stagger. The guards knew very well that His Majesty valued the emperor, and if there was really one of three longs and two shorts, they were afraid that they would not be able to afford it, so in the end, they just chose one of the two and ignored it.

By the time Shiyin received the news and led people to hurry to persuade her, Queen Fangshan had only half of her life left.

Qing Ling led the people again and went to the former Fang Shan clan's mansion.

The mansion has long since changed owners, and the current Yu Shi Cheng family lives in the court.

Qingling asked Yu Shi Cheng's family to blow out the old and young, threw a house deed to Yu Shi Cheng, and said, "This will be paid to you", and then led his own entourage, digging the mansion three feet into the ground, trying to find out the clues of the layout of Fang Shanlei back then.

There are also people from the Fangshan clan who were arrested and imprisoned before, cronies, and rebel prisoners who participated in the uprising, as long as they are still alive, they are all found out and tortured again.

Mu Chen rushed back to the capital, and when she saw Qing Ling, she was in the prison, leaning over and whispering something to the prisoner who had just been severely punished on the ground.

Hearing the movement, she slowly raised her head.

Wearing a long purple dress, it makes her slim figure. The luxurious golden grate between the black hairs reflects the flickering candle flame in the prison, reflecting a little bit of dazzling light.

Mu Chen's face was solemn, and he stepped forward and grabbed her, pulling her away from the blurred mass of flesh and blood on the ground.

"What are you doing?"

Qing Ling's expression was as usual, "Judging people." ”

Mu Chen glanced at the ground, trying to suppress his emotions, "Everyone is already dead, what else is there to judge?" ”

Qing Ling also looked back, as if he was slightly surprised, "Are you dead?" ”

She whispered softly, "Maybe I'm so weak now that I can't notice that someone is suddenly dying." ”

Mu Chen made a gesture for the body to be cleaned out, and then stared at Qing Ling, "What exactly do you want to do?" I told you Mu Han's whereabouts. He fled to the Southern Continent, and there is no way for us to send troops over at the moment, but as long as he dares to set foot in the Eastern Continent, I will definitely have a way to capture him. ”

Qing Ling pulled his hand out from his palm, "Then what if he doesn't come back for the rest of his life?" What to do? Raising his head, he looked at Mu Chen expressionlessly, "How can I take revenge?" ”

Mu Chen looked at her, his breath seemed to freeze for a moment, and he couldn't speak.

Chun Yuyan, who came with Mu Chen, saw Qingling for the first time in a long time.

He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and persuaded, "Qingling, it's been so many years...... People can't be resurrected from death, so why should you be too persistent? If you are safe and happy, and there is an excellent child by your side, if the son of the world can know, he will be happy and have no regrets. ”

Qing Ling moved his gaze and stared at Chun Yuyan for a moment.

The years do not seem to be merciful to him. Thin, tired, and with a stern line on his lips. The playful and uninhibited temperament of the past, because of the perennial immersion in officialdom and the holding of power, was replaced by a sophisticated and shrewd calm.

Qing Ling sneered.

"You know what? How do you know that he will be relieved and have no regrets? ”

He took a slight breath, his tone suddenly became difficult, and he whispered to himself, "He hasn't even looked at his own child, how can he be pleased?" ”

Chun Yuyan didn't hear the ridicule in Qing Ling's tone, turned around and let the guards who came with him retreat first, and then saw that Mu Chen still didn't speak, so he sighed secretly and persuaded Qing Ling: "If you want to find out the news, you don't need to make a storm in the city." After all, Queen Fangshan is your mother-in-law, even if she has a great sin, you will always end up with people to tell her the truth, and the gains outweigh the losses! There are also these people from the Shan clan in front, and those who can survive are all collateral who have nothing to do with it. The reason why they were able to save their lives at the beginning was that they really did not commit any mistakes, and second, they had some friendship with other officials of the DPRK and China and were able to obtain shelter. Now that you are making such a fuss, doesn't it make the guarantors behind them feel cold? How much effort has Your Majesty spent on rectifying the bureaucracy and appeasing useful people over the years? You won't be unable to see the implications and implications of this. ”

Qing Ling paced to the side, didn't look at Chun Yuyan, and said coldly: "What if you can see clearly?" These things don't mean anything to me now. I'm not you, for the sake of the so-called righteousness of the family and country, even my fiancée can give it up. ”

Chun Yuyan was also vaguely mentally prepared, but when he heard this, he still couldn't help but tighten his heart, and his face turned pale.

At this time, Mu Chen slowly opened his mouth, "Then you don't care about it, make such a big move, but what do you gain?" ”

Qing Ling lowered his head and arranged his sleeves, "I haven't gained anything for the time being, but I have some more clues." In the past, I only knew that the two brothers Mu Han and Fang Shan fled to Nanlu, which seemed to be related to some Qi clan over there. ”

She pointed to the ground, "Today, this person has an elder brother who is Fang Shanlei's personal entourage, saying that he has heard him mention something about 'marriage'. It was thought that Mu Han planned to join the Qi family, so as to get the protection and support of the other party. ”

Mu Chen's eyebrows were cold, and his tone was light, "And then?" ”

Qing Ling raised his head, "And then?" ”

Realizing what he meant, he curled the corners of his mouth, "Didn't you say that you can't go from the Eastern Continent to the Southern Continent?" But Mu Han can pass, why can't I? If the people of the Qi clan want to marry the Chaoyan royal family, I can also marry, as long as they can open the path and let me ......."

Before Qing Ling's words were finished, there was a clear sound of "pop", and there was already a slap on his face.

Mu Chen's hand froze in the air, his fingertips trembled slightly, and his dark eyes suppressed sorrow and anger.

Qing Ling's mind was a little dazed, and he subconsciously raised his hand and touched his face.

The body that has lost the protection of the powerful divine power has become fragile. Slender finger prints, which quickly puff out on the cheeks.

The two were silent for a long time.

At the end, Qing Ling raised his eyes to look at Mu Chen, quietly walked past him, and walked out of the cell.

～～

At night, Mu Chen went to Chunxi Palace to visit Qingling.

She was half on her side, her back to him.

The fragrance of lilies lingers, and the rich aroma fills the entire inner bed, making people feel a sense of dim unreality.

Mu Chen sat on the edge of the couch, looked at Qing Ling through the gauze tent for a long time, and said softly: "Let me see your face." ”

Qing Ling remained motionless.

Mu Chen waited for a while, and then, he lifted the thin layer of shark gauze curtains, leaned down and pulled Qing Ling's shoulder.

On his cheeks, which were as white as jade, his fingerprints were clear and distinct.

Mu Chen stroked it carefully, with a trace of guilt and heartache in his tone, "Why didn't you use the medicine?" ”

Qing Ling half-lowered his eyes, "What do you do with medicine?" Stay a few more days, so that those who are angry may breathe a sigh of relief, and let them know that His Majesty is impartial. ”

Mu Chen's chest became more and more congested, and he suppressed and said, "You know that I am reluctant to hurt you, so you force me in a different way, don't you?" ”

Qing Ling still lowered his eyes, "What did I force you?" You married Ning Yan and changed my son's surname, and I haven't even had trouble with you. I did something on my own to embarrass you a little, even if I forced you? ”

Mu Chen looked at the moist Dan lips in front of him, his throat was a little tight, and he said in a faint voice: "You know it in your own heart." ”

Qing Ling pursed her lips.

She was clear.

The reason why Mu Chen values her is not because of the indissoluble blood connection between the two, but because of the trust and dependence that she has established all the way. At any time, especially in the decision of major events, she has always put Mu Chen's interests in the most important position, even if she negotiated peace with Jiuqiu in the past, she has never given up maintaining the power and face of Emperor Chaoyan.

And the words she said today seemed to have left Mu Chen's gains and losses behind, completely ignoring the harm and impact of what she had done on him.

She stung him.

She understood.

Mu Chen's fingertips slid to her smooth chin, and his other arm wrapped around her, as if he was comforting the wronged child.

After a long time, he asked with some difficulty: "After so many years, you still can't forget him?" ”

What he hated was her ruthlessness, her madness that would do whatever it took for that person.

Again and again, year after year.

Crying, screaming, out of control, cruel.

Unrecognizable.

Knowing what the deepest scar on his heart was, he could still say something like that again.

For the sake of profit, marry away from home?

This kind of remorse is enough once in a lifetime......

Qing Ling was silent in the crook of Mu Chen's arm, and his thoughts seemed to be confused for a moment.

After a long time, he shook his head gently, "I can't forget it." A hundred years, a thousand years, and ten thousand years are all unforgettable. ”